Drakes on a plane: hands-on with Uncharted 3 single player

Ars goes hands-on with Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and finds that the …

Nathan Drake, protagonist of the Uncharted series, tends to have bad luck with moving vehicles. One of the more memorable sequences from Uncharted 2 involved Drake climbing up a train hanging over the edge of a cliff, and we've already seen a sequence from the third entry in the series in which he's forced to fight bad guys on a cruise ship being rocked by waves. Recently we had the chance to play a bit of the single-player campaign and we had to deal with yet another vehicle sequence: falling out of a cargo plane mid-flight.

As with many scenes in the Uncharted series, this particular one started off as a somewhat clichéd action movie sequence. There's a plane about to take off and you need to catch it. This involves first finding an alternate route through the numerous guards and around the closing gate to get to the runway. Simple enough. But of course a plane that's moments away from taking off is quite a bit faster than a man running alongside of it, so it takes a friend in a jeep arriving at just the right time to ensure you're able to grab hold of the landing gear and sneak aboard.

And then things start to get rough. After being spotted crawling through the ventilation, you get into a fight that results in much of the cargo aboard spilling out the back, yet still tethered to the plane itself. This creates a situation not unlike the train scene in Uncharted 2. You have to climb along the cargo, which is currently fluttering in mid-air behind an airplane, to get back to safety. In this case, safety means a cargo hold full of armed bad guys.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

What follows is a tense sequence as you have to not only successfully win a firefight in which you're seriously outnumbered, but also avoid all of the debris that's sliding around the now out-of-control plane. At some point the inside even catches on fire. The result, of course, is that the plane ultimately crashes, resulting in the image depicted on the game's cover.

The section we played only lasted a few minutes and felt largely the same as previous installments in the franchise, with combat and movement feeling as fluid as ever. But that's really the strength of the series: taking something familiar and making it exciting. This type of scene has been done many times before in action films, but it somehow feels fresh here. You know what's ultimately going to happen but it's those moments in between—when the plane catches fire, or a gate suddenly closes—that make the game so gripping.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is coming to the PlayStation 3 on November 1.

39 Reader Comments

I cannot wait for this game. Uncharted 2 is one of my favorite games of all time, and Uncharted 1 is quite good as well.

The series is also so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage.

I'm just glad I'll have Arkham City starting Tuesday to hold me over.

Speaking of which; I'd really love it if Ars reviews of games that come out on multiple platforms would compare the versions for me. As someone who has a PS3, 360 and gaming PC (and a Mac for that matter), I've been burned a couple times by getting the less-than-optimal version of a game.

The series is also so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage.

You must be playing the wrong games. The Uncharted series has awesome gameplay and great graphics, no doubt. Still. Crysis 2 with the Hi-Res texture pack and DX11 patch makes all other games look like crap in comparison. Even then, other games have an aesthetic that outstrips the Uncharted titles (though, as stated earlier, the Uncharted games look and play awesome) like Just Cause 2 (everything you can see, you can actually go to).

Stop thinking of games as graphics only, and enjoy them for what they offer. The Uncharted series offers a canned experience with graphics that work for the game (and they're exceptional as well). Too many games focus on visuals at the expense of actual gameplay. So, don't further that agenda, please.

Near the end, why would blowing up the side of the cargo plane create suction in pressure that made stuff flies out?

Not only the cargo plane wouldn't have flied at very high altitude to begin with, the cabin pressure difference was long neutralised when the cargo plane door was opened

I know this is a game and hence I can forgive regenerative health and survival of multiple bullet wounds, but the vacuum suction is worse than hollywood physics!

The Bernoulli Effect. The fast-moving air across the side of the plane reduces pressure across the hole, so the boxes have less air pressure on that side and experience a net force in the direction of the hole. Also, because it's cooler that way.

You must be playing the wrong games. The Uncharted series has awesome gameplay and great graphics, no doubt. Still. Crysis 2 with the Hi-Res texture pack and DX11 patch makes all other games look like crap in comparison. Even then, other games have an aesthetic that outstrips the Uncharted titles (though, as stated earlier, the Uncharted games look and play awesome) like Just Cause 2 (everything you can see, you can actually go to).

Stop thinking of games as graphics only, and enjoy them for what they offer. The Uncharted series offers a canned experience with graphics that work for the game (and they're exceptional as well). Too many games focus on visuals at the expense of actual gameplay. So, don't further that agenda, please.

I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage. There are other good looking games. Crysis 2 being one of them. Just Cause 2 I didn't think looked THAT great, not even as good as Crysis 1, and Just Cause 2 wasn't interesting to me.

Also, I don't know where you get this accusation of me thinking of games as graphics only. Especially when I mentioned the graphics as an "also", after mentioning how good it is.

I wish there would be an action game/movie that, when someone is kicked hard in the nuts, they don't get up in a few seconds and start wailing on the hero once again... Getting your nuts smashed keeps you on the ground in horrific pain for quite some time, with a line of fire from your chums to your throat that will NOT let you out of a fetal position (caught a soccer ball in the groin as a goal keeper in my teens, I still remember the agony and nausea). Trying to straighten feels like you'll rip your innards out.

That off my chest, I thought it looked interesting until Drake was able to jump from the loose cargo back INTO the plane hold, without getting swept away by the same turbulence that seemed to be picking off his enemies.

Yeah, the "bad science" really jumps out at you. The Bernoulli effect is definitely not that strong; the being-sucked-out-the-plane-door thing you see in the movies is purely a pressure difference phenomenon. I can forgive minor mistakes, but that one took me completely out of the scene, scratched-record-sound and all.

And video game jumps always look weird, especially when one defies basic physics as mentioned. The choreography for the hanging-on-to-the-cargo-net section was god, but again, the jump just takes you out of the moment.

The destruction looked very cool, but writers -- please pay attention to the basic laws of physics, if only for cinematographic reasons.

the uncharted series is the best thing to come out of this gen of consoles.

kudos to naughty dog. they got a winner. gonna be renting this one when it comes out.

I'm sure Naughty Dog really appreciate the rental too.

Am I the only one who thinks that sending kudos to Naughty Dog and then renting the game is completely backwards? Wouldn't you rather buy it, thus supporting them with money for all their amazing work? They won't see a dime from rental.

You must be playing the wrong games. The Uncharted series has awesome gameplay and great graphics, no doubt. Still. Crysis 2 with the Hi-Res texture pack and DX11 patch makes all other games look like crap in comparison. Even then, other games have an aesthetic that outstrips the Uncharted titles (though, as stated earlier, the Uncharted games look and play awesome) like Just Cause 2 (everything you can see, you can actually go to).

Stop thinking of games as graphics only, and enjoy them for what they offer. The Uncharted series offers a canned experience with graphics that work for the game (and they're exceptional as well). Too many games focus on visuals at the expense of actual gameplay. So, don't further that agenda, please.

I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage. There are other good looking games. Crysis 2 being one of them. Just Cause 2 I didn't think looked THAT great, not even as good as Crysis 1, and Just Cause 2 wasn't interesting to me.

Also, I don't know where you get this accusation of me thinking of games as graphics only. Especially when I mentioned the graphics as an "also", after mentioning how good it is.

Read -> Comprehend -> Post

Oh please, you're just compensating at this point. You can play all the semantic games you wish, but you're still full of nothing but bullshit. Fuck off, prick!

I love the Uncharted series. Graphically and gameplay-wise, they're fucking tits! But you, especially you, peopole like you piss me off to no end. Say what you mean, or else go to hell.

I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage. There are other good looking games. Crysis 2 being one of them. Just Cause 2 I didn't think looked THAT great, not even as good as Crysis 1, and Just Cause 2 wasn't interesting to me.

Also, I don't know where you get this accusation of me thinking of games as graphics only. Especially when I mentioned the graphics as an "also", after mentioning how good it is.

Read -> Comprehend -> Post

I think anyone who read your original post comprehended the following line:

ebbv wrote:

...The series is also so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage..

That was sort of the stand out line that the original replyer was concentrating on - or did you not quote follow that? Your post starts out with you proclaiming your Uncharted fanboyism, goes on to make that rediculous statement about the Uncharted series graphichs, and then finish's with an attempt to sound neutral with what is probably a lie about the consoles your own (and if it isn't a lie, being a fanboy of console x doesnt mean you can't own console y).

LOL @ going from "...so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage.." to "I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage." Play whatever semantic games you want with that - but "all" probably did mean something like "contemporary" since I doubt you were proclaiming Uncharted better looking than PONG.

I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage. There are other good looking games. Crysis 2 being one of them. Just Cause 2 I didn't think looked THAT great, not even as good as Crysis 1, and Just Cause 2 wasn't interesting to me.

Also, I don't know where you get this accusation of me thinking of games as graphics only. Especially when I mentioned the graphics as an "also", after mentioning how good it is.

Read -> Comprehend -> Post

I think anyone who read your original post comprehended the following line:

ebbv wrote:

...The series is also so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage..

That was sort of the stand out line that the original replyer was concentrating on - or did you not quote follow that? Your post starts out with you proclaiming your Uncharted fanboyism, goes on to make that rediculous statement about the Uncharted series graphichs, and then finish's with an attempt to sound neutral with what is probably a lie about the consoles your own (and if it isn't a lie, being a fanboy of console x doesnt mean you can't own console y).

LOL @ going from "...so good looking that it makes other contemporary games look like garbage.." to "I didn't say it makes ALL other games look like garbage." Play whatever semantic games you want with that - but "all" probably did mean something like "contemporary" since I doubt you were proclaiming Uncharted better looking than PONG.

Don't think twice. I've seen many of your posts, and you actually do comprehend written content. Unlike the previous poster, you understand written words.

So, I thank you for your sentiment, and at the same time, admonish ebbv for his lack of understanding. Also, I love your nick. That's just cool as all hell.

to all those critiscising the physics. Really? Have you never heard of the rule of cool ( in non fantasy or hypothetical works ) it is okay to defy physics as long as it isn't a major part of the plot and it is awesome. P.S And seriosly is that the best you can come up with? what about the bit in uncharted 2 where a train carriage is derailed on a roughly flat track .magically flips end over end several times spinning all the while retaining all of it's foreward momentum and then somehow managing to speed up and chase down the train which doesn't seem to be accelerating either way, almost hitting drake but saved just in time ( by a tunnel?). But it illustrates my point perfectly, it was impossible, but the fact that it was not plot relevant and that it was so over the toply :D wrong, that it was funny and cool.

Come on guys, there's so many nits to pick here! Snatched up from under the floor grating so easily? Eating bullets and not even being slowed down? That falling truck assembly should have yanked the innards out of the plane, with its momentum and air drag force. Etc. etc. For the most part, "reality" is just a convenient jumping-off point for entertainment. While watching the video (fullscreen of course) it felt like I was actually playing the game!

Near the end, why would blowing up the side of the cargo plane create suction in pressure that made stuff flies out?

Not only the cargo plane wouldn't have flied at very high altitude to begin with, the cabin pressure difference was long neutralised when the cargo plane door was opened

I know this is a game and hence I can forgive regenerative health and survival of multiple bullet wounds, but the vacuum suction is worse than hollywood physics!

The Bernoulli Effect. The fast-moving air across the side of the plane reduces pressure across the hole, so the boxes have less air pressure on that side and experience a net force in the direction of the hole. Also, because it's cooler that way.

It's the third Michael Bay Law of Mechanics. "In the presence of a camera or any recording-like device, objects move in the path of the most awesome cinematics". Or, as he is know to abbreviate, "Physics is my bitch, bitches."

Not that I think Michael Bay movies are any kind of awesome, mind you. Drake, on the other hand, is. For all I care, things can fall upwards in Uncharted 3 and it will be fine with me as long as it's even 10% as fun as 1 and 2 were. They could, however, increase the targeting reticle... whenever I start an Uncharted game, the first hours are spent in frustration trying to get a hold of the targeting mechanics. Am I the only one that finds it harder than your average third person shooter?

I have to admit, I'm not interested in this game, really. (not ripping it, there are those that do, and that's great. I'm just not one of them)

But there ARE a number of things which ripped at the realism, such as the plane suddenly climbing for the sky (thus knocking him out of the plane), when seconds later it is shown as perfectly level with no trouble maintaining it. The parachute? Gone, never seen again after it rips stuff out of the plane, even when the shot does transition to one you can see behind (and below, if it had ripped off). Why does he have no problems with the turbulence while he's fighting, but then as soon as it is over, suddenly he hunches? What the heck is the thing that falls on the ramp .5 seconds after he gets past? Why is there fire? Why does he have infinite ammo for a gun he ripped off a guy that fell out of the plane? Does he even reload (honest, couldn't tell)? Why the heck is there suddenly negative pressure sucking everything out of the plane when a minute earlier there was a gaping hole in the back with no repercussions? Why is there no influx of air when the front of the plane breaks off? If the back of the plane is open, how is his terminal velocity somehow MASSIVELY more than a plane that was already traveling? He would have slowed down, and definately not less than the plane itself. Why does the segment not rotate when suddenly exposed to air resistance? These are ignoring the usual "Get shot 50 times and you're fine, but don't get shot the 51st time!"

It's like Independence Day and the ever expanding fireball. Err, fireRING. Which somehow magically travels at the exact same speed as the ever expanding shockwave (which also only travels outward), but is slow enough people see it coming? What the heck? Even if it is alien space magic, how the heck does the dog JUMP into the alcove (which is somehow magically safe, despite being open), as the fireball goes past, and he and everyone else isn't even singed? Heat... you know, radiates. Or how about when they come out of the tunnel and there are hulks of burning cars lying around and there is a palm tree right there, completely untouched, perfectly pristine? How does the fireball burn cars, buildings, people, and blow things hundreds of feet when a palm tree ten feet from the tunnel is fine?ARGH!

Am I getting into nitpicks? Yes. Are these things fun? Maybe. Believable, no. For me, that ruins the realism of any media that bills itself as realistic and modern day. We don't expect to believe that something with magic and wizards is realistic, nor do we always expect it of the future. But when we see things that are based on the world today, as if this could be going on right now, we just don't know it... seeing these things is horribly jarring and breaks the realism for me.

Doesn't make them any less fun, but it just shatters the realism for me.